Tuesday, May 2, 2017

This Is My Fight Song

This is my fight song
Take back my life song
Prove I'm alright song
My power's turned on
Starting right now I'll be strong
I'll play my fight song
And I don't really care if nobody else believes
'Cause I've still got a lot of fight left in me
-Rachel Platten


One of our family's favorite music groups right now is the Piano Guys. We love how they combine new and old songs, inventing new moves and techniques on the piano and cello. They really are awesome.

Their newest album, Uncharted, came out last fall. It has become our minivan sound track. The songs are very stirring. Our favorite of the favorites is Track 1.

Amazing Grace-Fight Song.

It's the piano. And drums. And bagpipes. And the cello. Plus some good, hearty Oomphs! by kilted Scotsmen. 


Here's my confession...I had no idea that Fight Song was a song. I mean, obviously it was a song. I didn't know it was a thing. But my kids did. I think they heard it at their cousins' house? 

Anyway...

There was the morning in January that Meres and I were driving to the hospital for her last chemo treatment. The player rotated the disks to Uncharted. Fight Song-Amazing Grace started playing. And Meres belted out the first few lines.

Being the only lines of the song she knows...

This is my fight song
Take back my life song
Prove I'm alright song
-oh yeah (a  Meres' improvisation)

It seemed so fitting to hear her sing those words on her way to chemo. She hasn't let cancer get her down. Not for half a minute. Not her barfing or her prosthetic eye or her hair loss or the really long chemo days or the unending pokes.


I'm proud of her indomitable spirit. 

Of course, being a hormonal mother, I also cried in the front seat that morning.

Not from Fight Song, and her robust little girl voice piping the lyrics. But as the Amazing Grace harmonies played, and it's lyrics wound through my head. Not the first verse, but the (traditionally) third...

Through many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come.
'Tis grace has brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.
-John Newton

It was a promise and reminder that spoke to my heart that morning. We have been through so much this year. But, by God's grace, we have safely come through these dangers, toils and snares. And, what a mercy to know that God's grace will continue to lead us-step by step, year by year, trial by trial-safely home!

It's May. Four months later. We still listen to this soundtrack almost every time we are in the car. And I oomph with the Fight Song, and praise God with the chords of Amazing Grace. We are still fighting. We've still got a lot of fight left in us. We are alright. (maybe barely, some days, but nevertheless, alright.)

The pairing of these two songs is absolutely genius. It the glorious combo of not giving up because God's grace is empowering each step. For me, forever and ever, amen, this Piano Guys' arrangement will always be associated with Meres' cancer, and the way that cancer changed our family. 

It has become our fight song. 

The grace of God.